Hi,
I have two PCs each with a Wireless-G PCI Adapter (Minitar MN54GPC-RC).
They are in two seperate rooms seperated by two walls and about 20 metres.
The house also has two cordless Uniden telephones using the 2.4GHz spectrum.
I have managed to connect the two PCs using both Windows’ own Zero Configuration utility and the RALink utility. In RALink, the Link Quality reaches about 80%, and the Signal Strength averages 33%, reaching 45%. Windows displays the signal strength somewhere between Poor to Very Strong.
Disconnecting the telephones has no noticeable difference to these values.
I can detect two other wireless networks within range. One uses Channel 6. I’m unsure of the other.
The connection works at best intermittantly, and at worst, not at all. Removing authentication (currently set to WPA) has no bearing on the problem.
What are the best parameters to look at to resolve the lack of connectivity?
Is it physical? I’m a little disappointed at the cards’ performance through only two walls. I believe (possibly incorrectly) there is little else to interfere with the signal. One of the PCs is in a study which contains a TV, a fax/copy/scanner, and a Uniden telephone. The wireless antenna is at desk height and on the other side of all this equipment, towards the other wireless antenna. There is little metal between the two antennas.
Are there advanced card parameters I could look at tweaking?
Should I consider a wireless repeater?
Are “better” antennas able to be connected to the PCI cards?
Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thank,
Steve
